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Mad Madge

Written by Rose Napoli | Directed by Andrea Donaldson

A Nightwood Theatre production in association with VideoCabaret

Meet Margaret Cavendish, 17th-century philosopher, poet, playwright – a scandalous Jill-of-all-Trades and mistress of none. In her unapologetic pursuit of fame, Madge ditches her dysfunctional family to join the court of an unruly Queen and leave her mark on history.

Paying homage to Jane Austen and Tina Fey in the same breath, this laugh out loud contemporary-period mashup suggests that perhaps a woman’s hunger for unbridled attention is not so shallow, after all.

For Rose Napoli:
Dora Award nomination for Outstanding New Play for Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells)
Dora Award nomination for Outstanding Performance in The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh
One of NOW Magazine’s Top Ten Theatre Artists
“Rose Napoli’s Catherine is, dare I say, perfect” – Intermission Magazine on Wildwoman

Content Warning: this play contains partial nudity, haze and crude language.

Talkback and Panel Schedule

Friday, April 12 – Post-Show Talkback
Stay after the show and cozy up with the cast members for an informal, Q&A-style chat.

Saturday, April 13 (matinee) – Intentional Mis-Casting Panel
Join Director, Andrea Donaldson, and (Re)Setting the Stage Investigators: Keira Loughran, Jamie Robinson, and Marlis Schweitzer in a discussion on casting practices and conventions in Canada, and what it means when those conventions are broken.

Tuesday, April 16 – Theatricalizing History Panel
In the era of Bridgerton, Six: The Musical, and other contemporary-period mashups, we invite you to sit with Andrea Donaldson and Rose Napoli (director and playwright of Mad Madge), and Kat Sandler and Weyni Mengesha (the playwright/director and artistic director of Wild Woman at Soulpepper). Delve into the unique balance of commemoration and creativity needed to tell these historical tales on today’s stages.

Wednesday, April 17 – Econoscenography & Sustainable Designing Panel
In a play about excess, inside of an already-ephemeral art form, is it possible to make a zero-waste show? Join the Set, Costume & Props Designers, Astrid Janson, Abby Esteireiro, and Merle Harley, along with director Andrea Donaldson as they unpack the challenges, possibilities, and necessities of designing sustainably.

Friday, April 19 – Post-Show Talkback
Last chance to stick around the cast members for a casual, Q&A-style discussion.

Credits

Written by Rose Napoli
Directed by Andrea Donaldson
Starring: Rose Napoli, Karl Ang, Wayne Burns, Izad Etemadi, Farhang Ghajar, and Nancy Palk
Set, Costumes, and Props Designed by: Astrid Janson, Abby Esteireiro, and Merle Harley
Wardrobe Team: Alessia Urbani, Jennifer Purcell Martin, and Maxim Bortnowski
Dresser: Tsz Ting Lam
Lighting Design: Rebecca Vandevelde
Sound Design: Olivia Wheeler*
Associate Sound Designer: Frank Incer
Intimacy Director: Christina Fox
Stage Manager: Hannah MacMillan
Production Manager: Maya Royer
Production Consultant: Pip Bradford
Producer/Publicist: Victoria Laberge
Commissioned by: Kate Amesbury
*Represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.

From April 9
to April 21, 2024

Tickets are $25.50 (Previews) | April 12 to 16: $31 or $48 | April 17 to 20: $42.50 or $59.50 | A limited amount of PWYC tickets will be available per performance.

Venue

Franco Boni Theatre

Performance Dates

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – 7:30pm (Preview)
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 – 7:30pm (Preview)
Thursday, April 11, 2024 – 7:30pm (Opening Night)
Friday, April 12, 2024 – 7:30pm
Saturday, April 13, 2024 – 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, April 14, 2024 – 2:00pm
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – 7:30pm
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – 7:30pm
Thursday, April 18, 2024 – 7:30pm
Friday, April 19, 2024 – 7:30pm
Saturday, April 20, 2024 – 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, April 21, 2024 – 2:00pm

This performance is 2 hours and 20 minutes including intermission

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